Suspended overpass



1967 w. w. PLEASANTS SUSPENDED OVERPASS Filed May 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

INVENTOR. WILUAM W. PLEASANTS PWFQPJ ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 26, 1967 w. w. PLEASANTS SUSPENDED OVERPASS Z5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1966 PM! *PM in i 1967 w. w. PLEASANTS 3,

SUSPENDED OVERPASS Filed May 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet ."5

Fig. 3

'- Y INVENTOR.

' WILLIAM W. PLEASANTS P v-W ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,359,587 SUSPENDED OVERPASS William W. Pleasants, Santurce, Puerto Rico (Main St., Bethe], Del. 19931) Filed May 17, 1966, Ser. No. 550,884 7 Claims. (Cl. 14--1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A structural framework spanning the intersection of major and minor thoroughfares carries an overpass sus pended therefrom by cables. Ramps serve to provide approches to the overpass from the minor thoroughfare and exits from the overpass to the minor thoroughfare.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The invention relates to overpasses for facilitating the movement of vehicles at the intersection of two thoroughfares.

(2) Description of the prior art My Patent No. 3,247,539, issued Apr. 26, 1966, teaches an overpass suspended by cables from a ground-supported framework characterized by a pair of interconnected frame mebers each arching diagonally over the intersection of two streets whereby to facilitate movement of vehicles in an urban area where space is at a premium and disturbance of existing construction is impractical. The patented arrangement is used to great advantage at relatively small intersections, e.g., where one or both of the streets has a total of four traffic lanes. When each of the intersecting streets has a total of traffic lanes in excess of four, the patented arrangement is not used to full advantage because the span of the arched frame members extending diagonally across the intersection becomes excessive.

SUMMARY The structural framework from which the overpass is suspended comprises three ground supported semicircular frame members. One extends along the median of a minor thoroughfare and arches over a major thoroughfare, and the other two extend respectively along opposite sides of the major thoroughfare and arch over the minor thoroughfare. Thus, in plan View, the frame members are arranged in the form of the letter H, as a consequence of which the spans of the frame members are held to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view'of a suspended overpass erected at a street intersection and embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the overpass shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on line IIIHI in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section on line IVIV in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section on line VV in FIGURE 2, showing details of a typical overpass section.

The following description is directed to the specific embodiment shown in the drawings. It is not addressed to the scope of the invention, which may be practiced in a variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings, a major thoroughfare or street is provided with three lanes 12 of traffic in one direction and three lanes 14 of trafiic in the opposite direction. The major thoroughfare 10 intersects a minor 3,359,587 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 thoroughfare 16 provided with median strips 18 dividing three lanes 20 of traffic in one direction from three lanes 22 of traflic in the opposite direction. A sidewalk 24 defined by a curb 26 is at each corner of the intersection. The suspended overpass constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a rigid framework, generally designated 28. The framework includes an arched, semicircular upright frame member 30 spanning the minor street 16 and disposed on one side of the major street 10. The opposite end portions 32 of the member 30 are suitably supported upon and anchored to the ground, each within the associated sidewalk area 24. An arched semicircular upright frame member 34 spanning the minor street 16 is disposed on the opposite side of the major street 10. The opposite end portions 36 of the member 34 are suitably supported upon and anchored to the ground, each within the associated sidewalk area 24. Spanning the major street 10 is an arched, semicircular upright frame member 38, opposite end portions 40 of which are suitably supported upon andanchored to the ground, each within the associated section of the median strip 18. It will be understood, of course, that the ground supports for the opposite end portions of the arched members may assume various forms. Above the intersection, near the top of the framework is a system of frame members, generally designated 42, including an auxiliary frame member 44 extending horizontally between corresponding opposite side portions of the member 30, an auxiliary frame member 45 extending horizontally between corresponding opposite side portions of the member 34 and an auxiliary frame member 48 extending horizontally between corresponding opposite side portions of the member 38. Each end portion of each member 44, 45 and 48 is rigidly aflixed to the associated member 30, 34 or 38. Diverging outwardly from each of the member 48 are a pair of branches 50, each pair of branches forming a crotch 52. The extremity of of branch 50 is rigidly affixed to the associated member 44 or 45. It will be appreciated that the system of frame members 42 is operative to interconnect the members 30, 34 and 38 thereby to secure the same against lateral movement.

Atlixed to the member 48, midway between the opposite end portions thereof, is a crossarm 56 parallel the major street 10.

Extending across the major street 10 and disposed on one side of the member 38 at a suitable distance above the intersection are a pair of aligned overpass sections 58 and 60, and extending across the major street 10 and on the opposite side of the member 38 at a suitable distance above the intersection are a pair of aligned overpass sections 62 and 64. Hanger rods 66 extend downwardly and outwardly from the crown of the member 38 to each end of the crossarm 56, and hanger rods 68 extend downwardly from the crossarm 56 to the underlying end portions of the overpass sections 58, 60, 62 and 64. Hanger rods'70 extend downwardly from the crowns of the members 30 and 34 to the members 44 and 45, and hanger rods 72 extend downwardly from the members 44 and 45 to the underlying end portions of the overpass sections 58, 60, 62 and 64. Thus each overpass section is suspended at each end.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 5, each overpass section comprises a pair of stringers 74 carrying a deck plate 76 and cover plates 78. Overlying the deck plate 76 is a reinforced concrete roadway 80, on opposite sides of which respectively are a pair of curbs 82. Surmounting each stringer 74 is a railing 84.

Suitably connected to the outer end of each overpass section is a ramp 86 extending downwardly to the surface of the minor street 16.

The overpass sections and the ramp sections conveniently may be made substantially identical.

It should be noted that the overpass sections are suspended from overhead so that there are no supports rising from the street level in the intersection area. This eliminates the possibility of vehicles running into bridge supports in the intersection area, and eliminates any bstruction to visibility between vehicles entering the intersection. The structure may be arranged for use as a temporary structure during permanent construction, or it may be put to other temperoray uses, at resorts, athletic events, conventions, fairs, etc.

. semicircular steel arches spanning in the order of 80- 150 feet are readily available for the purpose intended. Preferably three such arches spanning the same distance are used. It Will be noted that since each of the arches is parallel to one or the other of the thoroughfares, the spans of the arches are held to a minimum, in consequence of which the suspended overpass structure is particularly suited for relatively large intersections.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structure for facilitating the movement of vehicles along intersecting major and minor thoroughfares, the combination comprising a rigid framework including a pair of upright, arched frame members respectively on opposite sides of the major thoroughfare and fully spanning the minor thoroughfare, the opposite end portions of each of said members being supported upon and anchored to the ground wit-hout'said' thoroughfare, another upright, arched frame member, fully spanning said major thoroughfare and having opposite end portions supported upon and anchored to the ground between the lanes of trafiicf of said minor thoroughfare, and a system of auxiliary'frame membersinterconnec ting the several arched frame members for mutually bracing the same against lateral movement, overpass means aligned with saidminor thoroughfare, means fully and freely suspending said overpass means directly from said framework above the intersection of said thoroughfares, and ramp means from saidoverpass means to said minor thoroughfare providing approaches to and exits from said overpass means.

'2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the system of auxiliary frame members interconnecting the several arched frame members includes auxiliary frame members each disposed in underlying spaced relation to the crown portionof one of said arched frame members and affixed by longitudinally spaced portions thereof to corresponding opposite side portions of the associated arched frame member, andadditional auxiliary frame members bracingly interconnecting the firstm'entioned auxiliary frame members.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the system of auxiliary frame members terminates at each end in outwardly diverging branches forming a crotch therebetween, and the arched frame member spanning the major thoroughfare passes through both 'crotches.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the arched frame member spanning the major thoroughfare is afiixed to the system of 'aux'iliary'frame membe'rsin the vicinity of the crotches, and 'at each end of the system of auxiliary frame members the branches thereof forming the crotch are aflixed to an auxiliary'frarne member extending across the minor thoroughfare,

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein at the center of the major thoroughfare the overpass means is suspended from the crown portion of the arched frame member spanning said major thoroughfare, and at opposite sides of said major thoroughfare the overpass means is suspended respectively from'the pair of arched frame members spanning the minor thoroughfare.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the overpass means are, disposed respectively on opposite sides of the arched frame member spanning the major thoroughfare, and a ramp is provided for each end of each overpass means.

7. In a structure for facilitating the movement of vehicles along major and minor thoroughfares substantially the same in width and intersecting substantially at right angles to each other, the combination comprising a rigid framework including a set of three upright, arcuate frame members semicircular in shape and formed to the same radius, a pair of said arcuate frame members being disposed respectively on opposite sides of the major thoroughfare, and being of a size to fully span the minor thoroughfare, the opposite end portions of each of said pair of arcuate frame members being supported upon and anchored to the ground without said thoroughfares, the remaining one of said arcuate frame members being disposed proximate the centerline of said minor thoroughfare, and being of a size to fully span said major thoroughfare, the opposite end portions of said remaining arcuate frame member being supported upon and anchored to the ground, a pair of auxiliary frame. members extending across, said m inor thoroughfare and disposed respectively in underlying spaced relation to thecrown por ions of said archedframe members spanning said minor thoroughfare, each ,of said auxiliary frame members being affixed by opposite end portions thereof to corresponding opposite side portions of the associated arched frame member, and an auxiliary frame member extending ,across said major thorough-fare, disposed in underlying spaced relation to the crown portion of said arched frame member spanning said major thoroughfare, and terminating at each end in outwardly diverging branches forming a ,crotch there -v between the arched frame member spanning said major thoroughfare being passed through both crotches, and being aifixed to said crotched member, the outer extremities of the branches forming each crotch being aflixed to the associated auxiliary frame member extending across said minor thoroughfare, overpass means close adjacent to the arched frame member spanning said major thoroughfare and disposed respectively on opposite sides thereof, means suspending said overpass means from the crown portions of the arched frame members, and ramps from each of said overpass means to said minor thoroughfare to provide approaches to and exits from said overpass means. l

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,211,110,. 10/1965 Pierson 14:18 XR OTHER REFERENCES- Popular Mechanics, September 1953, page 137.

JACOB L NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN STRUCTURE FOR FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES ALONG INTERSECTING MAJOR AND MINOR THOROUGHFARES, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A RIGID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPRIGHT, ARCHED FRAME MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FULLY SPANNING THE MINOR THOROUGHFARE, THE OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING SUPPORTED UPON AND ANCHORED TO THE GROUND WITHOUT SAID THOROUGHFARE, ANOTHER UPRIGHT, ARCHED FRAME MEMBER, FULLY SPANNING SAID MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS SUPPORTED UPON AND ANCHORED TO THE GROUND BETWEEN THE LANES OF TRAFFIC OF SAID MINOR THOROUGHFARE, AND A SYSTEM OF AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING THE SEVERAL 